Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Feb 13, 2021 4:07 pm We are trying to do polished concrete in our new build but our builder will not let us do it out of contract and the price they have given us is actually quite unbelievable. I had factored in the cost to polish it that their polisher gave us, plus upgrading to 32mPa, plus extra reinforcement, plus the extra for the concreter to screed it properly, plus a 30% builders margin and it’s still come in nearly double. They are saying that the things that need to be upgraded is 32mPa, plus reinforcing, plus upgrading to a 120mm slab over 100mm, plus extra engineering. Can anyone tell me what extra engineering would be required on top of the above? Thanks Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 2Feb 13, 2021 5:20 pm Low concrete slump ( higher cement to water ratio) which also requires vibrating, but you have state the obvious, in that Builders can charge whatever they want and it's something you can't do after handover Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 3Feb 13, 2021 5:28 pm StructuralBIMGuy Low concrete slump ( higher cement to water ratio) which also requires vibrating, but you have state the obvious, in that Builders can charge whatever they want and it's something you can't do after handover Thank you. All that is already on the list of reasons for the extra costs but I’m confused as to why extra engineering is also on there when all these things are being listed as well. We have done it after handover before and so have several of our friends. Of course I’d rather it be done while being built and I’m happy to pay the extra for it, but the margin is through the roof and it’s like being held to ransom. We had to even sign a waiver that they won’t take responsibility for all of the things that can go wrong, which I completely understand and I understand that concrete can and does have issues, but to then charge what they are asking despite all that, is wrong and taking advantage. Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 4Feb 13, 2021 7:08 pm The standard A slab is 85mm thick +/- 15mm ie 70or 100mm then grind 20mm off after handover Don't like your chances of the slab being 100mm thick so you'll end up with a slab the same thickness as your alfresco pavers 50mm with insufficient reinforcement cover? Goodluck concealing the cracking.... lol and the cracks appear right in the middle of the FMK area The alternate is you pay up. Grano trade clients pay $50/m2 for the material engineering upgrade and get a grinder/polisher and doing it themselves. OT clients now have the ability to access and scrutinize most costs and charges online... once you sign up and pay a deposit your negotiating strength for variations and engineering diminishes, basically it's too late to complain about the price heres a tip, also watch out for Unless Noted Otherwise (UNO) in the specifications and engineering..it has a tendency to become $ticker$hock in the final variation fixing Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 5Feb 13, 2021 7:31 pm StructuralBIMGuy The standard A slab is 85mm thick +/- 15mm ie 70or 100mm then grind 20mm off after handover Don't like your chances of the slab being 100mm thick so you'll end up with a slab the same thickness as your alfresco pavers 50mm with insufficient reinforcement cover? Goodluck concealing the cracking.... lol and the cracks appear right in the middle of the FMK area The alternate is you pay up. Grano trade clients pay $50/m2 for the material engineering upgrade and get a grinder/polisher and doing it themselves. OT clients now have the ability to access and scrutinize most costs and charges online... once you sign up and pay a deposit your negotiating strength for variations and engineering diminishes, basically it's too late to complain about the price heres a tip, also watch out for Unless Noted Otherwise (UNO) in the specifications and engineering..it has a tendency to become $ticker$hock in the final variation fixing I am happy to pay, I don’t like being ripped off. The upgrade costs include all of what you have mentioned but then they are charging again for extra engineering. What that extra engineering I don’t know as they have itemised all the upgrades already so that would be the extra engineering. I’m not trying to polish a standard slab, I’m wanting it all upgraded and done properly, but after all the “extra” upgrading, $10k on top is a bit rich. I have prices and I know what things cost and like I said, I already incorporated a 30% builders margin, but when the margin ends up over 100% markup and there is no other choice, it’s taking complete advantage. I just want to know what else could possibly need engineering to add on that much extra as like I said, they have already added on all the extra for thicker concrete, 32mPa, extra reinforcing, vibrating, extra for the concreters to lay it and screed it right. After all that is already included, what extra engineering could cost so much? Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 6Feb 13, 2021 7:35 pm StructuralBIMGuy The standard A slab is 85mm thick +/- 15mm ie 70or 100mm then grind 20mm off after handover Don't like your chances of the slab being 100mm thick so you'll end up with a slab the same thickness as your alfresco pavers 50mm with insufficient reinforcement cover? Goodluck concealing the cracking.... lol and the cracks appear right in the middle of the FMK area The alternate is you pay up. Grano trade clients pay $50/m2 for the material engineering upgrade and get a grinder/polisher and doing it themselves. OT clients now have the ability to access and scrutinize most costs and charges online... once you sign up and pay a deposit your negotiating strength for variations and engineering diminishes, basically it's too late to complain about the price heres a tip, also watch out for Unless Noted Otherwise (UNO) in the specifications and engineering..it has a tendency to become $ticker$hock in the final variation fixing And our slab is already 100mm thick as standard, they are upgrading to 120 Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 7Feb 13, 2021 7:41 pm Take the risk and polish it yourself after handover, If you're confident, obviously your builder doesn't share your confidence in the build as is. BTW they will be pumping 100mm slump pea soup concrete it cracks at any thickness. you have been warned Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 8Feb 13, 2021 7:51 pm StructuralBIMGuy Take the risk and polish it yourself after handover, If you're confident, obviously your builder doesn't share your confidence in the build as is They won’t let us, they won’t upgrade the concrete unless we are getting polished concrete through them. Our hands are tied and unfortunately it’s very important to us to have this as we have designed a solar passive house. Re: Engineering for polished concrete? 9Feb 13, 2021 7:55 pm Rizzo Our hands are tied and unfortunately it’s very important to us to have this as we have designed a solar passive house. Put concrete mock porcelain tiles down it has the same effect but considerably cheaper. But somehow the price always adds up? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Assuming you've modelled the TB8, TB10, TB12, TB2 & J1 joists/LVLs there, it appears as per drawing to me. There maybe should be an additional J1 between TB10 and T12 if… 3 31818 Thanks for all replies. I just noticed now the pictures I added to post right on top of page were wrong. I attached pictures showing "current" and my "suggested" floor… 9 14635 |